Today, the Cincinnati Board of Education announced it will appoint a replacement member to the Board on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, to complete the term of Chris Nelms, who passed away in September.

The Board outlined its procedures to solicit applications, conduct interviews, and engage the Cincinnati community in the appointment process, which must be done within thirty days of a vacancy according to Ohio Revised Code. The new member will serve the duration of Nelms’ term through December 2019, and is eligible to run for election in November 2019.

“We are seeking a qualified and committed pool of candidates who represent the diversity of the students in our district,” said Cincinnati Board of Education President Ericka Copeland-Dansby. “It is my personal hope and intent to identify a candidate to serve the remainder of Mr. Nelms’ term who embodies his tenacity, his spirit and his dedication to our community.”

Interested candidates may apply for the position by submitting an application and résumé starting at 9 a.m., Friday, Sept. 29. Applications must be received by the Board of Education Office no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 5. Applicants are required to be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident and registered voter in the Cincinnati City School District. Application materials will be available on the Cincinnati Public Schools website at cps-k12.org.

The Board also invited the public to participate in a community survey to determine the top characteristics of a potential new board member. The Board will use this input in its deliberations for choosing the next member. The survey will remain open until Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, and the Board will release the results on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. The survey is available online.